Lionel Messi’s arrival can’t come soon enough.
Inter Miami blew a 2-1 lead in its MLS match with Wayne Rooney’s DC United team on Saturday night, extending its winless streak to 10 games.
Taxi Fountas scored his sixth goal of the season and also contributed a crucial assist as DC twice rallied from a deficit to earn a 2-2 tie against visiting Miami
Nigel Robertha also scored only moments after entering the game for DC (8-9-6, 30 points), which earned a point despite conceding multiple goals for the fourth time in its last six games.
Robertha’s late goal prevented Tata Martino from picking up a win in his managerial debut for Miami, which is winless in its last 10 but has drawn three in a row since Marino’s hiring was announced.
Inter Miami blew a 2-1 lead in its MLS match with Wayne Rooney ‘s DC United Saturday night
DC United forward Nigel Robertha scores the equalizer to earn a 2-2 tie at Audi Field
DC United forward Taxiarchis Fountas (11) celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal
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Fountas has now scored in back-to-back games, each time helping DC overcome a key absence.
This time it was team assists leader Mateusz Klich, who was out while serving a yellow card accumulation suspension.
Cremaschi and Allen each scored their first career professional goals for visiting Miami (5-13-3, 18 points).
Drake Callender made seven saves for the visitors despite letting in two goals.
DC led 16-11 in total shots and 9-6 in efforts on target in a game where all the goals came after halftime.
After Cremaschi opened the scoring off a feed from Robert Taylor, Fountas answered by finishing off an excellent team goal.
Donovan Pines played a long ball down the left to find Yamil Asad, and Asad played a clever backheel pass to Cristian Dajome following the play.
DC United players celebrate after rallying twice from a deficit against Miami in league action
Miami appeared to confirm Messi’s arrival for July 16 after sending details to media on Friday
Dajome slotted a pass to his right, and Fountas curled a right-footed shot around the dive of Callender and inside the far-right post.
Allen put Miami in front again only three minutes later when his free kick from the right fizzed through traffic and found the far-left corner.
D.C. went level for the second time in the 77th minute. This time Fountas played catalyst with a ball down the right to Ruan, who immediately drove in a cross from the corner.
Robertha met it at the back post with a one-time finish into an open goal, with Callender stranded at the other post.
Miami appeared to confirm Messi’s arrival for July 16, with the club teasing a ‘major unveiling event’ that night to reporters, the day before Saturday’s tie.
DC United midfielder Russell Canouse (6) is tackled by Inter Miami forward Josef Martinez (17)
Miami’s Martinez fires an effort towards goal during the team’s 2-2 tie in MLS on Saturday
The welcoming of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is set for 8pm ET, and will include ‘exciting entertainment, speeches on the pitch and more’ according to the club.
Messi will likely be unveiled alongside former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, who has also agreed to join Miami.
The club is also close to wrapping up a deal for longtime Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba, with the acquisition of the 34-year-old essentially a done deal, according to the Miami Herald.
On recent evidence, Miami needs Messi, at the very least, and fast.
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